Uchiha Fugaku's Advance

Root.

In a room that never saw sunlight, like roots buried underground, as dark as a sewer.

Danzo, wrapped like a mummy and leaning on a cane, stared down with cold eyes, his dissatisfaction evident on his face. "Ryoma, with your skills, to fail to capture even a rookie Uchiha brat... I am extremely disappointed in you!"

His tone was harsh, and his words were quite severe.

'Root's' management was extremely strict, with internal rules and disciplinary regulations so cruel they were terrifying.

A 'Root' member who failed a mission could very well have everything stripped away – their identity, name, family, friends, past, and so on, before vanishing from the face of the earth.

The Root member standing beside them, upon hearing Danzo's scolding tone, showed a hint of sympathy for Aburame Ryoma, who was kneeling below.

"I apologize, Lord Danzo. Uchiha Sōgetsu was cautious, and I sensed the Hokage's technique, so I unilaterally aborted the mission."

Aburame Ryoma knelt on the ground. Although he kept his head bowed deeply, there was no trace of reverence in his eyes.

Having already seen the 'Great Dragon,' why would he be afraid of a rat hiding in a gutter?

Danzo's face was grim, or rather, it was always that expression.

Although this mission had failed, he didn't intend to punish Aburame Ryoma, as he was his most capable right-hand man.

It was just a small mistake; a few reprimands would suffice. Danzo thought to himself, planning to let Aburame Ryoma beg for mercy and then give him a chance to redeem himself.

However. The hall was silent.

Danzo waited for a long time, almost to the point of hallucinating, but Aburame Ryoma remained silent. "Ahem, Ryoma, is there nothing else you wish to say?"

"I have failed Lord Danzo's expectations and willingly accept responsibility," Aburame Ryoma said.

"You..." This made Danzo lose face. His already wrinkled old face became even more unsightly.

Fortunately, another Root member noticed their leader's predicament and quickly intervened. "Lord Danzo, I don't think the mission failure was entirely Ryoma's fault. It was also the Hokage's intention. I believe it was a warning to us."

"In that case, the punishment is waived."

Danzo quickly seized the opportunity. "Ryoma, your mission remains unchanged. Continue to monitor Uchiha Sōgetsu and report everything about him, but do not act rashly for now!"

"Yes, Lord Danzo."

Aburame Ryoma slowly stood up and exited the room.

Watching the back of his most trusted subordinate leave, Danzo felt a strange sense of unease. "Is it an illusion? Why do I feel like Ryoma is a bit distant?"

Meanwhile, the departing Aburame Ryoma's resolve grew stronger.

"My choice was not wrong."

"As Lord Sōgetsu said, Danzo is merely a rat hiding in the gutter, lacking the courage to face the sunlight."

"Someone like that... is not worth my allegiance, nor does he possess the 'peace' I seek!"

"Lord Sōgetsu, I will clear all obstacles for you!"

In the dark corridor, Ryoma's eyes grew brighter and more determined.

By the time he returned to the Uchiha Residence, it was nearing sunset.

Sōgetsu ran into a woman as soon as he arrived.

"Sōgetsu, you're back? Fugaku has been waiting for you for a long time, saying he has something to discuss." The woman, with her belly protruding, had a radiant smile on her face.

But upon seeing Sōgetsu's tired expression, she worriedly added, "Are you alright? You look exhausted. How about I ask Fugaku to come see you another day?"

"I'm fine, Lady Mikoto." Sōgetsu forced a smile, his gaze falling on her belly. "More importantly, you should be extra careful and take care of yourself now that you're pregnant."

If he wasn't mistaken, the famous Uchiha 'devout son' should be in there.

Mikoto pursed her lips into a smile, her right hand caressing her slightly swollen belly. A maternal glow emanated from her slightly plump face. "It's alright, this child is still early. I have nothing to do in my room, so I might as well accompany Fugaku to see you."

"Lady Mikoto, since Lord Fugaku has been waiting for me for a long time, I will go see him first. Please excuse me." Sōgetsu apologized and pushed open the door.

"You're back?"

Uchiha Fugaku was sitting inside. Seeing him enter, he beckoned. "Sit. Judging by your appearance, it seems you've encountered some trouble?"

He actually came all this way to ask about this?

Sōgetsu pondered for a moment and decided to tell a partial truth. He nodded slightly, revealing a hint of bitterness, and pretended to grit his teeth in anger. "You are correct. It seems my joining the Anbu has stirred up some people's nerves."

"Danzo?" A sharp glint flashed in Uchiha Fugaku's eyes, but he concealed it well. His tone was calm. "He made a move against you?"

Judging by Fugaku's Ether Body's aura, he clearly already knew about this.

Interesting. He knew, but didn't warn me.

A clan head who can lead a major Konoha clan is indeed not a simple fellow.

Sōgetsu sneered inwardly.

Then, he pretended to clench his fist, suppressing his anger. "That's right, it was Danzo. That guy intended to make a move against me, but for some reason, he suddenly left."

"I didn't expect the Uchiha's situation to be so dangerous now," Uchiha Fugaku said, as if sighing with emotion or sorrow. "We were once the greatest contributors to the founding of Konoha, yet now we have fallen to this state. After the Senju clan, are we also to..."

Fugaku left the latter half of the sentence unspoken, yet it seemed to convey everything.

"Lord Fugaku, what you mean is..." Sōgetsu widened his eyes in feigned shock.

"Enough, don't say any more, Sōgetsu."

Fugaku's face was apologetic as he patted Sōgetsu's shoulder and said in a deep voice, "I will go to Lord Hokage for you regarding this matter and demand an explanation from Danzo!"

"Lord Fugaku." Sōgetsu couldn't help but be moved, his face showing 'gratitude', then he hesitated again, "But won't this make Danzo hate us even more?"

"There's no need to say more, Sōgetsu."

Fugaku straightened his back, his eyes stern. "No matter what, you are a member of our Uchiha. For you, and for us, I must go to Lord Hokage!"

"Thank you, Lord Fugaku."

Sōgetsu thanked him sincerely.

"We are all of the same clan, we should help each other."

Fugaku patted his shoulder heavily and said, "Sōgetsu, you are already a Jonin and are qualified to attend clan meetings. Remember to come to Naka Shrine tomorrow."

"Yes, Lord Fugaku."

Sōgetsu agreed verbally, but his mind drifted elsewhere.

"Alright, you should get some rest." Fugaku acted the part of an elder, saying caringly, "Don't forget, you will always be a member of the Uchiha. We are family."

"I understand, Lord Fugaku."

Sōgetsu clenched his fist, his eyes firm. "I will always be a member of the Uchiha clan. Today's events have made me realize that neither Danzo nor that person can be trusted!"

"It's best that you understand."

Fugaku smiled and said mysteriously, "Look forward to tomorrow. Our Uchiha clan is far more than what you see."

With that, Fugaku left, arm in arm with his wife. They walked away, laughing.

Gazing at their retreating figures, Sōgetsu curved his lips into a playful smile.

So, this was Fugaku's true intention.

He deliberately withheld information, using Danzo's methods to make Sōgetsu resent the Hokage faction, thereby solidifying his choice to side with the Uchiha.

He hadn't expected that Uchiha Fugaku, who seemed harmless in the manga, was just as cunning and manipulative.

And ambitious!

Perhaps the Uchiha clan's rebellion in the original story wasn't solely due to external factors, but also had an inseparable connection to internal issues.

December 6th, Sunny.

The entire office has the flu, watching helplessly as we're surrounded... When can I stop working at this damn job!